Kansas Municipal News
Marion County commissioners set to vote on administrator
Marion County commissioners are poised to vote Monday to create a county administrator position. At their meeting last week, commissioners heard from the public in support of the idea, reviewed a proposed resolution to create the position, and set the matter to be discussed Monday. Among those speaking in favor of hiring an administrator was retired judge Michael Powers.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Marion County underserved by lawyers
With nine licensed lawyers in the county, several of them not actually practicing, and only two offices where a customer could hire a lawyer, Marion County is among the least-served counties for legal services. The Rural Justice Initiative, a committee to examine unmet legal needs in rural Kansas, will study the issue for 18 months and submit recommendations to the state Supreme Court. Although only half the state’s population lives in Douglas, Johnson, Leavenworth, Sedgwick, Shawnee, and Wyandotte counties, 80% of the state’s lawyers do.
Source: Marion County RECORD
Overland Park unveils new police transparency webpage
An Overland Park mother is applauding the city’s efforts at bringing more transparency to its police department. The Overland Park Police Department last week unveiled a new “police transparency” webpage that includes information, links and policies that aim to more openly define the department’s processes and current measures in place to hold officers accountable. The page has earned the praise of Sheila Albers, a leading advocate for police transparency, whose son John was shot and killed by an Overland Park police officer in 2018.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Prairie Village to discuss attainable housing again in early 2023
Prairie Village city leaders will meet early next year to again discuss the city’s controversial housing recommendations. The planning commission and city council will meet in a joint session sometime early in 2023, in part, to gauge the council’s support for potentially using public tax incentives to encourage the development of more attainable “missing middle” housing, like townhomes and duplexes, in parts of the city.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Wichita wants to incentivize landlords to provide low-income rentals
The city of Wichita plans to incentivize landlords to rent units to low-income residents who receive rental assistance. On Tuesday, Wichita’s City Council voted to support the new program with $250,000 from the city’s allocation of American Rescue Plan Act funding. The program is in response to rising rental rates in Wichita, as well as several recent major sales to new out-of-state property owners who have decided not to accept housing choice vouchers, a form of rental assistance for low-income people and families, formerly Section 8. The city says it is often presumed that housing choice tenants are more likely to cause damage or not fulfill the lease, so the new program will cover the costs of excessive damages or vacancy costs.
Source: Wichita Business Journal
Ashland School District cancels school Thursday due to illness
The Ashland School District has canceled school on Thursday, Dec. 8, due to a high number of illnesses among its students and staff. The district is also canceling all school-sponsored activities and practices, and all buildings will be closed. The junior high basketball game scheduled for Thursday will be rescheduled. A new date has not yet been set. “We anticipate still playing High School basketball on Friday,” says the district.
Source: KSN-TV
Hays USD 489 committee looks at new logos but still split on Indian mascot
A rebranding committee is still split on the potentially offensive nature of Hays High School’s Indian mascot. The Hays USD 489 school district rebranding committee met for the first time on Monday night. The school district conducted a survey and found a majority of respondents wanted to keep the Indian mascot. However, at a community meeting on Nov. 15 and at the rebranding meeting Monday, some community members said they believe the high school mascot should be changed.
Source: Hays Post
Municipal Bond Trends for December 6, 2022
The interest rate table above illustrates recent changes in a sample of MBIS “investment grade” yields. Every issuer’s credit is different. For rates that may be applicable to your municipality, contact our Municipal Bond Advisors, Larry Kleeman, Beth Warren and Henry Schmidt.
Recycling future at risk: Shawnee County eyes rising costs in weighing program’s fate
Shawnee County would greatly extend the lifespan of its Rolling Meadows Landfill by offering curbside recycling, county commissioners were told in 2012 as they prepared to establish that program. But nearly a decade later, that landfill’s life expectancy has risen by only four months, commissioners learned last month from Bill Sutton, director of the county’s solid waste department. Meanwhile, the cost of offering curbside recycling has risen to the point where it is increasingly impractical for government entities.
Source: CJonline
Hutchinson City Council OKs new hotel and hires city manager
Hutchinson City Council approved both a new city manager and a new hotel during Tuesday’s meeting. Kendal Francis, who is currently the city administrator of Great Bend, will begin work in Hutchinson in January. Francis started in Great Bend in mid-2018. Francis also served as city manager in Coffeyville. He is a graduate of Kansas State University, having a bachelor’s and master’s degree from the school. … “We’re going to roll up our sleeves and we’ll get to work soon,” Francis, a Kansas native told the commissioners.
Source: Hutch News
City Council approves new contract for Wichita firefighters
Wichita City Council members voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a new three-year contract for the city’s firefighters. The contract will provide for a general pay increase of 9 percent along with merit-based step increases. There will also be pay increases for medical certification, among a number of other provisions. Ted Bush, president of Local 135 of the International Association of Firefighters, said the contract will provide a much-needed sense of security and stability to the union members. He said it will be life-changing for firefighters and their families and it will make Wichita one of the best cities in the country for future firefighters. Bush thanked the people of Wichita for their support and said “we will continue to serve each one of you with pride, professionalism and gratitude.”
Source: 101.3 KFDI
City input session planned regarding future Aggieville projects
A public input session is planned by Manhattan city officials next week regarding the upcoming Aggieville streetscape projects. City officials are working with design consultants on plans for the next infrastructure phases to improve streets, sidewalks, landscaping and amenities in Aggieville, along with lighting and other underground utilities. Upcoming projects include 12th Street improvements from Laramie to Moro Streets, Laramie Street from 11th to North Manhattan Ave. and the pedestrian path between Rally House and Goodcents, north of the parking garage.
Source: 1350 KMAN
People Are Leaving Kansas in Droves
Across the country, hundreds of thousands of companies have established remote work policies in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. No longer bound to an office, millions of Americans are now free to relocate without having to consider proximity to their employer – and some clear trends are emerging. A recent study from moving services company United Van Lines showed that in some parts of the country, far more people are leaving than are moving in. According to the United Van Lines study, there were 2,741 moves to or from Kansas in 2021. Of those moves, 56% were outbound – the 11th highest share among states, excluding Alaska and Hawaii.
Source: Derby Informer | News
Search to begin for new Great Bend city administrator
Great Bend City Administrator Kendal Francis officially announced his resignation before the City Council Monday night. Reading from a prepared statement, an emotional Francis praised the city staff and governing body and urged them to rely on this expertise as the search for his replacement gets underway. “It’s not been easy on anybody” Mayor Cody Schmidt said. “We have quite a process in front of us,” Schmidt said. “But I have big hopes big dreams and a lot of faith in this group up here with me. We will do everything in our power to make sure the city continues to move in the right direction.”
Source: Great Bend Tribune
Halstead Hospital doesn’t receive any bids in auction
According to the online auction site, three of the four properties for sale by Azzy Reckess of New York received bids. The largest bid came in at $340,000 for the apartment complex at 308 Chestnut, across the street from the Halstead Hospital. The residence at 311 Chestnut, which is at the edge of the parking lot of the hospital, brought a high bid of $55,000. The Townsman Motel received a bid of $16,500. The Halstead Hospital was listed at a starting bid of $500,000 and did not receive any bids, according to Weigand’s auction website.
Source: Harvey County Now
City of Wichita launches landlord incentive program to help with housing voucher backlog
On Tuesday the Wichita city council passed a new incentive program to try to address the issue. Stang says the program will pay out “$1,000 in a one-time payment to any new landlord who’s never participated in the program before, a $500 incentive for a landlord that participated in the past, but hasn’t in the last six months and comes back, those are available with our first lease up and then it’s a $250 bonus signing bonus for each tenancy.“
Source: KAKE – News
‘Every second counted’: Leawood honors rescuers who pulled woman from burning car
Three weeks ago, 51-year-old Caroline Kill was pulled from a fiery crash in Leawood by first responders, a dramatic rescue that was caught on a police officers body camera. At a City Council meeting on Monday, Leawood leaders honored her rescuers for their bravery and saving Kill’s life. “They are heroes,” said Martha Gage Elton, Kill’s mother. The crash occurred just after 2 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Tomahawk Creek trailhead parking lot at 117th Street and Tomahawk Creek Parkway, near the Leawood Police Department.
Source: KC Star Local News
Prairie Village is getting heated over a plan to expand affordable housing
An ad hoc committee appointed by the mayor of Prairie Village has submitted recommendations meant to diversify the city’s housing stock and affordability. The plan, among other things, would change zoning rules to allow more multi-unit buildings in zones designated for multi-family housing. Dan Schoepf, a member of Prairie Village United — a group organized in opposition to the recommendations — questioned the city’s ability to mandate diversity and rent costs. And he raised concerns about expanding the use of accessory dwelling units.
Source: KCUR
Prairie Village may expand home improvement funds
More Prairie Village residents could become eligible for two city grant programs aimed at helping homeowners make exterior improvements to their homes. City staff recommended city council approve several changes to the city’s exterior grant and sustainability grant programs. Both programs reimburse qualifying residents for portions of either exterior or sustainability-related improvements to their homes.
Source: Prairie Village Post
Merriam approves $1M fund to help revive hotels
The Merriam City Council has approved a $1 million fund to help revive its four hotels, a key part of the city’s tax base. The fund, approved by an unanimous vote at the council’s Nov. 28 meeting, is an attempt to help the city’s hotels, all of which are located along Interstate 35, refurbish their properties and increase their revenues. City staff told the city council the goal is to decrease blight and increase the average daily room rates at the four hotels, which include the Extended Stay America, Hampton Inn Suites, Hotel Lotus and Quality Inn clustered around I-35 and Shawnee Mission Parkway.
Source: Shawnee Mission Post